Neuroscience

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Courses and Requirements

The goal of Hamilton's Neuroscience Program, operated jointly by the departments of Psychology and Biology, is to present students the opportunity to explore the fascinating, rapidly changing intersection of those disciplines — the biological basis of behavior.

The departments of Biology and Psychology offer an interdisciplinary concentration in neuroscience. The concentration consists of 12 courses, which must include: Biology 101 and 102, or 115 and another biology course at the 200 level or above; Chemistry 120 or 125, and 190; Psychology 101, 201 and either 204 or 205; a biology or psychology elective at the 200 level or above, Chemistry 270, Computer Science 375, Philosophy 310, or Philosophy 440; Systems Neuroscience (330) or Vertebrate Physiology (Bio 331); Psychology and Neurobiology of Learning (320), Affective Neuroscience (327), or Cognitive Neuroscience (328); Cellular Neurobiology (357); and the Senior Project. Program honors recognize the distinguished achievement of students who excel in their coursework in the concentration, including the Senior Project. Students considering graduate work in neuroscience should consult with members of the Neuroscience Program Committee to determine additional courses that might be helpful.

198F,S Collaborative Research in Psychology I.
Collaborative research under the supervision of a faculty member. Focus on data collection and/or analysis. Three to four hours per week of lab work. Prerequisite, Permission of the instructor. Student performance will be evaluated as Satisfactory/Unsatisfactory. One-quarter credit per semester. May be repeated for credit, but does not count toward concentration requirements.
(Same as Psychology 198.)
The Department.

201F,S Statistics and Research Methods in Psychology.
The application and interpretation of descriptive and inferential statistics in the study of psychological processes. Some instruction in research design and methodological issues. Students will learn to use the statistical computer program SPSS to analyze data. Topics include the principles of hypothesis testing, t tests, analysis of variance, regression, and some non-parametric statistics.
(Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning.)
Prerequisite, 101.
(Same as Psychology 201.)
McKee (Fall); Borton and Grysman (Spring).

204F,S Human Neuropsychology.
Study of human brain function from the standpoint of experimental and clinical research in behavioral and cognitive neuroscience. Survey of research involving animals and humans, addressing presumed neural mechanisms for cognitive, motivational and emotional states. Analysis of aphasia, agnosias, apraxias and disconnection syndromes. Prerequisite, 101. Not open to students who have completed Psych/Neuro 232.
(Same as Psychology 204.)
Bejjanki (Fall) and Thiruchselvam (Spring).

205F Introduction to Brain and Behavior.
Study of the structure and function of the nervous system as it relates to consciousness and behavior. Emphasis on psychobiological explanations of perception, learning, attention, motivation, emotion and behavior disorders. Prerequisite, 101 or Biology 102 or 115.
(Same as Psychology 205.)
Robinson.

310S Philosophy of Science.
Focus on the philosophical analysis of scientific knowledge, scientific method and the practice of science. Readings include classic texts in the philosophy of science as well as contemporary discussions of science as a social product and critiques of the notion of scientific objectivity.
(Writing-intensive.)
Prerequisite, one course in philosophy or consent of instructor. Next offered 2016-17
(Same as Philosophy 310.)
Maximum enrollment, 20.
Janack.

320S Psychology and Neuroscience of Learning.
An exploration of theoretical and methodological questions involved in the study of learning and neural plasticity. Questions covered will include: What is learning? What are the mechanisms that support neural plasticity, and how do they contribute to learning-induced changes in behavior? How does learning change across the lifespan? Laboratory exercises will include the development of original experiments to elicit and measure learning at the behavioral and neural levels, as well as the analysis of neural data. Three hours of class and three hours of laboratory.
(Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning.)
Prerequisite, Psych/Neuro 201 and Psych/Neuro 204 or 205. Does not count toward the lab requirement in Psychology.
(Same as Psychology 320.)
Maximum enrollment, 20.
V Bejjanki.

327F Affective Neuroscience.
An exploration of theoretical and methodological questions in the study of affect, addressed through neuroscience. Questions covered will include: What is affect? What functions does affect serve and how does affect become dysfunctional in psychopathology? How does affect shape cognition? How do individuals regulate affect? Class time will be devoted to discussion of research articles. Laboratory exercises will include the development of original experiments to elicit and measure affect, as well as the analysis of neural data. Three hours of class and three hours of laboratory.
(Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning.)
Prerequisite, Psych/Neuro 201.
(Same as Psychology 327.)
Maximum enrollment, 20.
Thiruchselvam.

[328F]
Cognitive Neuroscience.
Study of brain processes involved in cognition, with a focus on current research designs and techniques. Class discussions will focus on primary research articles covering perception, attention, memory and language systems. Laboratory exercises will include the analysis of structural brain scans and electroencephalographic data, and the design, programming and presentation of original experiments. Three hours of class and three hours of laboratory.
(Quantitative and Symbolic Reasoning.)
Prerequisite, Psych/Neuro 201 and Psych/Neuro 204 or 205. Does not count toward the lab requirement in Psychology.
(Same as Psychology 328.)
Maximum enrollment, 20.

330S Systems Neuroscience.
The primary focus of this course is on the physiological and chemical basis of behavior from a systems perspective. Topics include analysis of sensory and motor systems; motivated behaviors; stress, anxiety and mental illness; and learning and memory. Laboratory exercises introduce students to the anatomy and physiology of the mammalian central nervous system and to some of the principal techniques used in systems and behavioral neuroscience. Three hours of class and three hours of laboratory. Prerequisite, 204 or 205 or Biology 101 and 102, or Biology 115. Does not count toward the lab requirement in Psychology.
(Same as Psychology 330 and Biology 330.)
Maximum enrollment, Other.
Robinson.

[333S]
Contemplative Neuroscience: The Brain and the Buddha.
The Buddha proposed that we can end suffering by training the mind. This course will explore the contribution of Buddhism to psychology and neuroscience. We will ask: Can we train attention to promote resilience, compassion, and well-being? What is the core nature of self and thought? What is the relationship between the brain and consciousness? Although the course will draw upon Buddhist philosophy, we will investigate these questions from the perspective of modern neuroscience, examining empirical studies using methods such as EEG, fMRI, and single-cell electrophysiology. Prerequisite, Psych/Neuro 201. Next offered spring 2019.
(Same as Psychology 333.)

355F Neurobiology of Addiction.
This course is centered on understanding the neurobiology of the “addicted brain.” Strong emphasis on the neurobiological effects of drugs of abuse, including short and longer-term changes in the brain and body that occur in response to drug use and abuse. A sampling of drugs to be discussed include cocaine, heroin, marijuana, hallucinogens and alcohol. Effectiveness of various treatment strategies will also be considered. Some discussion of the social, political and philosophical aspects of addiction to drug and non-drug substances (e.g., food compulsions and pathological gambling). Prerequisite, Psych/Neuro 201.
(Same as Psychology 355.)
Robinson.

357F Cellular Neurobiology.
A study of the fundamental functions of eukaryotic cells. The interrelationships of cellular structure and function, the cell cycle, protein trafficking and cellular communication will be examined through the study of neurons, the basic unit of the nervous system. Additional topics will include specialized activities of neurons. Three hours class and three hours of laboratory. Prerequisite, 101 and 102, 115, or consent of instructor.
(Same as Biology 357.)
Lehman.

[440]
Mind and Body.
An examination of literature in philosophy of mind. Focus on questions and issues such as: What is the mind? How is it related to the body? What is its role in personal identity? How do theories of mind relate to our understanding of affective and cognitive phenomena such as the emotions, will and reason? Prerequisite, three courses in philosophy or consent of instructor. Taught as a seminar.
(Same as Philosophy 440.)
Maximum enrollment, 12.

500F-501S Senior Project.
Supervised research on a specific problem in neuroscience based on proposals submitted to the faculty in the spring of the junior year. Open to senior concentrators. The Department. .